How Much Does a Medical Assistant Make in Bristol, TN in 2026?
Typical pay for Medical Assistants in Bristol, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Tennessee.
BLS OES May 2025 · Kingsport · Bristol metro area
A typical Medical Assistant in Bristol, Tennessee earns $18.29 per hour, or $38,040 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,170 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $34,060, and the top 10% of earners make over $47,670.
That pay is 4% below the Tennessee figure of $39,570 and 17% below the national figure of $45,690. Bristol ranks 5th of 10 metro areas in Tennessee for Medical Assistant pay. About 690 Medical Assistants work in the Kingsport · Bristol area. Bristol is part of the Kingsport · Bristol metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Kingsport share these figures.
Medical Assistant pay in Bristol at a glance
- Typical pay is $18.29 an hour, or $38,040 a year.
- That is 4% below the Tennessee figure, ranking 5th of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $34,060; the top 10% make over $47,670.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Medical Assistant make in Bristol?
Pay in Bristol runs from entry-level positions at around $16.38 an hour to more than $22.92 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Tennessee and national figures.
Medical Assistant pay by career stage in Bristol
| Career stage | Bristol | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $34,060$16.38 an hour | $34,840$16.75 an hour | $36,050$17.33 an hour |
| First years | $36,230$17.42 an hour | $37,160$17.86 an hour | $38,470$18.50 an hour |
| Typical Medical Assistant | $38,040$18.29 an hour | $39,570$19.02 an hour | $45,690$21.97 an hour |
| Experienced | $43,090$20.72 an hour | $45,580$21.91 an hour | $49,180$23.65 an hour |
| Top 10% | $47,670$22.92 an hour | $48,540$23.34 an hour | $59,310$28.52 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Kingsport · Bristol area as BLS defines it
How Bristol compares with other Tennessee cities
Nashville pays Medical Assistants the most in Tennessee at $44,620 a year, $6,580 more than Bristol. The lowest-paying area in the state is Morristown at $36,760.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Bristol | Medical Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville | $44,620 | $21.45 | +17% | 6,340 |
| 2 | Chattanooga | $40,160 | $19.31 | +6% | 2,060 |
| 3 | Memphis | $39,260 | $18.87 | +3% | 3,350 |
| 4 | Knoxville | $38,880 | $18.69 | +2% | 2,550 |
| 5 | Bristol metro incl. Kingsport | $38,040 | $18.29 | this city | 690 |
| 6 | Johnson City | $37,740 | $18.15 | -1% | 760 |
| 7 | Clarksville | $37,390 | $17.98 | -2% | 670 |
| 8 | Jackson | $37,280 | $17.92 | -2% | 420 |
| 9 | Cleveland | $37,170 | $17.87 | -2% | 230 |
| 10 | Morristown | $36,760 | $17.67 | -3% | 240 |
Every metro area in Tennessee with Medical Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Tennessee typical pay $39,570
Is Bristol a good place to work as a Medical Assistant?
Medical Assistants in Bristol earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $38,040 a year, 17% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Kingsport · Bristol area, about 5.8 are Medical Assistant positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 5.2. Medical Assistant jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Medical Assistant make in Bristol, TN?
- A typical Medical Assistant in Bristol earns $38,040 a year, or $18.29 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $34,060 and the top 10% earn over $47,670.
- How much does a Medical Assistant make an hour in Bristol?
- Typical hourly pay for Medical Assistants in Bristol is $18.29. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $16.38, and the top 10% earn over $22.92 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Medical Assistant in Bristol?
- Entry-level Medical Assistant positions in Bristol typically offer around $16.38 an hour, or $34,060 a year.
- Is Medical Assistant pay in Bristol higher than in the rest of Tennessee?
- Bristol pay is 4% below the Tennessee figure of $39,570 a year, ranking 5th of 10 metro areas in the state. Nashville pays the most in Tennessee at $44,620.